De-icer boot for breathing mask



Nov. 17, 1964 A. BLOOM ETAL DE-ICER BOOT FOR BREATHING MASK OriginalFiled April 10. 1961 AARON BLOOM INVENTURS WILL/AM M0270, JQ

ATTOQN evs United States Patent 25,688 DE-ICER BOOT FOR BREATHING MASKAaron Bloom, Pasadena, and Wiiliam D. Morton, Jr.,

Arcadia, Calif., assignors to Sierra Engineering Co.,

Sierra Madre, Calih, a corporation of California Original No. 3,073,302,dated Jan. 15, 1963, Ser. No.

192,025, Apr. 10, 1961. Application for reissue Mar. 2,

1964, Ser. No. 358,392

7 Claims. (Cl. 128-146) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The invention relates to respiratory apparatus and more particularly toa breathing mask of the type used by aircraft pilots for high altitudeflying. More particularly the invention relates to an attachment oraccessory for a high altitude breathing mask which surrounds thecombincd inhalation-exhalation valve housing immediately outside of theoro-nasal receptacle and is of such character as to inhibit to asubstantial degree accumulation of frozen moisture derived from thegases exhaled by the pilot during use of breathing apparatus at highaltitudes.

It has been recognized that when oxygen or breathing masks are used byaircraft flight personnel under conditions of high altitude flying, theoxygen or air supply directed into the mask passes oxygen or air forbreathing at temperatures far below freezing. The temperatures actuallyexperienced in fact are as low as 60 degrees below zero Fahrenheit andin some instances lower. As masks of this type are ordinarilyconstructed, the valving consists of a valve housing in which isincorporated two valves in combination, namely, an inflow check valveand an exhalation valve, one surrounding the other in the interest ofmaintaining compactness in the equipment. Since the gases exhaled fromthe lungs of the operator contain considerable moisture, the moisturetends to condense within the valve housing upon being expelled therefromand under circumstances where the oxygen being supplied, for example,may be as low as 60 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, the extremely coldcondition tends to chill the valve housing and component parts to suchan extent that the moisture is frozen in and around the exhalationvalving. On some occasions there is enough caking of frozen moisture toseriously impair the proper functioning of the mask or even to renderthe mask almost unusable unless the moisture can be broken away or themask in a sense, de-iced.

In recognition of this necessity masks have been constructed with ade-icer boot integrally formed with the oro-nasal recetacle and thecombined boot and receptacle then covered by the customary hard-shellmodified to the extent that the hard shell also surrounds the deicerboot. Although the presence of a de-icer boot in this form is ofappreciable help in inhibiting the accumulation of ice around thecombined inhalation-exhalation valve housing, the construction is suchthat the icing can be broken away only with considerable difiiculty. Inother words, it requires considerable effort for the operator with hisgloved hand to distort the hard-shell sufficiently to fold and wrinklethe de-icer boot contained therein enough to break loose the ice.

Other disadvantages also exist in devices heretofore available in thatthe process of moulding a composite receptacle and de-icer boot togethermakes for a difficult moulding operation, expensive moulds, andtirne-consuming operations in stripping the mould, cleaning the com--posite moulded article, and thereafter attaching to it the necessaryaccessories, such, for example, as the valve housing. Even the stepnecessary for positioning and anchoring the resilient ore-nasalreceptacle within the hard-shell has its detrimental features in that itis time- Re. 25,688 Reissued Nov. 17, 1964 ice consuming, especially inarranging the hard-shell and the receptacle in a strictly properrelationship with respect to each other as a sub-assembly.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new andimproved de-icer boot for breathing masks which is constructed as asub-assembly for attachment to the remaining mask assembly, thereby togreatly simplify the problems both of construction and assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcombined breathing mask and de-icer boot which are initially constructedas separate sub-assemblies and therafter joined together in operatingrelationship by virtue of providing connecting parts, all of which canbe attached together by a single connecting means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcombined breathing mask and de-icer boot wherein theinhalation-exhalation valve housing is so constructed that it serves aspart of the means for interconnecting the de-icer boot with the masksub-assembly, thereby to connect all of the parts by use of a singlescrew-threaded connection which extends through the passages normallyconsidered as the supply passages to the oro-nasal receptacle.

Still further included among the objects of the invention is to providea simple, separate de-icer boot capable of being assembled as asub-assembly entirely separate and apart from the valve housing and theoro-nasal re ceptacle whether used with or without a surroundinghard-shelhthe de-icer boot being such that after insertion of the valvehousing within it, these parts can be quickly and easily attachedtogether to the mask assembly by a. connecting ring which serves notonly to seal the connection between the several parts but which may alsoserve as a means of attaching the mounting bracket of a microphonecontained within the mask assembly.

Also included among the objects of the inevntion is to provide a new andimproved mask assembly wherein a combined mask and hard shell are formedto present a. rigid platform at the lower forward portion upon which thevalving sub-assembly can be mounted and subsequently removed therefromwhen needed, the valve subassembly being so designed that it can includea separately moulded de-icing boot removably secured therearound.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafterset forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side perspective view of the combined breathing mask andde-icer boot in assembled condition.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled portions ofthe device with the mask assembly broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the de-icer boot sub-assemblypartially broken away to show the interior construction.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFIGURE 4.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustrationa combined breathing mask and deicer boot is shown particularly inFIGURE 1 consisting of a mask assembly indicated generally by thereference character 10 and a de-icer boot assembly indicated generallyby the reference character 11 joined together with the assistance ofportions of a combined inhalationexhalation valve housing 12, as shownin FIGURE 2. The connection is made by employment of a fastening sleeveindicated generally by the reference character 13 which threadedlyengages the valve housing and holds all of the parts together in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The mask assembly is built in conformance with accepted standards andconsists of an oro-nasal face receptacle 14 which normally fits over thechin, mouth and nose of the user and is constructed, usually ofrelatively thin, flexible, resilient rubber or synthetic plasticmaterial of comparable consistency. The receptacle is provided with aface-contacting sealing gasket 15 around the Open end which fits thecontour of the face of a user in accordance with well-known design. Inthe present embodiment the receptacle extends for-Ward and terminates inwhat may be termed a hose attachment area '16, the inner portion ofwhich may best be described as an annular mounting gasket 17. The gasket17 provides a supply passage therethrough for the oro-nasal facereceptacle.

Surrounding the forward portion of the receptacle is a hard-shell 18constructed of a semi-rigid fiber-like hard board moulded to conform tothe shape of the forward portion of the receptacle and distendedoutwardly to a degree in order not to compress any portion of theflexible receptacle inwardly. It will be understood that the receptaclehas a chamber inside (not shown) which is. large enough to permit freemovement of the jaws and lips of the user so that he can talk readilyand easily in order that his voice may be effectively picked up by amicrophone 19 within the receptacle mounted upon a bracket 24) having apart thereof shaped like a washer 21 provided with a bead 22 to improvethe ease of sealing when the parts are assembled in the manner shown inFIGURE 2.

The hard-shell 18 has a relatively flat outer area 23 in which is apassage 24 which coincides with the passage formed by the mountinggasket 17 and which also serves as a supply passage.

The de-icer boot assembly identified in FIGURE 1 and shown in greaterdetail in 'FlGURES 2 and 4 consists of an annular mounting ring 30,preferably made of some hard synthetic plastic material, the ring beingprovided with an annular, relatively flat, transverse flange 31 and anannular axially extending flange 32 at its outer perimeter. The mountingring serves as a means for interconnecting inside ends of an exteriorwall 33 and an interior wall 34 in the form of a double walled sleeve35. The outside ends of the walls 33 and 34 are joined together by afold 36 so as to enclose an insulating space 37. Actually the exteriorand interior Walls comprise one continuous piece of flexible resilientsheet material of rubberlike consistency substantially the same asthematerial of the receptacle 14, although perhaps of slightly thinnergauge. A vent hole 3-8 is provided in order to equalize pressure outsideand inside the sleeve so that it will not either balloon out or collapsewith changing ressures. Ribs 39 are also provided between the walls soas to assure that they remain spaced from each other at all times,thereby to preserve the presence of the space 37.

The inside end of the exterior wall 33 overlies the :axially extendingflange 32 and is firmly held in position upon the flange by an annularband 40. The inside end of the interior wall 34 lies in engagement withthe inside surface of the axially extending flange 32 and abuts againsta face 4110f the transverse flange 31.

The valve housing l2 previously identified is adapted to have connectedthereto a supply hose 42 of conventional construction by use of anappropriate clamp 43.

A body 44 of the valve housing is attached by means of screws 45 to aconnecting ring 46. The connecting ring has a cylindrical exterior 47which presses lightly against the inside end of the interior wall 34,thereby tending to urge it into its position against the inside face ofthe axially extending flange 32. The connecting ring 46 is also providedvwith an annular fiat face 48 which presses endwise against thetransverse flange 31 when in assembled position.

For the purpose of connecting the parts together, the connecting ring 46is provided with an exteriorly threaded sleeve 49 which extends throughthe passage 24 and the corresponding passage within the mounting gasket17 to a position more or less flush with the inside face of the mountinggasket 17. The fastening sleeve 13 which lies inside the receptacle 14-h-as an interiorly threaded portion so which extends into the passagethrough the mounting gasket i7 and threadedly engages the exteriorlythreaded sleeve 49 of the connecting ring 46. Wrench holes 51 may beprovided to assist in rotating the fastening sleeve when the parts areassembled. in assembled condition a retaining edge 52 of the fasteningsleeve overlies the washer 2 1 ot the microphone bracket and per-forcealso overlies the mounting gasket 17 so that when it is screwed tightlyinto position the head 22 will be forced into the mounting gasket toimprove the seal so that the connection will be fully ai tight. Theforce of application of the threaded members into engagement with eachother at the same time draws the connecting ring against the mountingring 36 and in turn presses the transverse flange 31 of the mountingring into snug engagement with the exterior of the hard shell 1%, inturn pressing the hard shell into engagement with the mounting gasket17. This connection needs to be firm and positive but does not ofnecessity constitute the needed seal or sealing effect which isaccomplished around the interior surface and the passage through themounting gasket 17. The attachment of the de-ice boot in the mannerdescribed, however, does form a firm, positive mechanical attachmentwhich is necessary and needful in the device.

When the assembly is to be made, normally the valve housing 12 isextended into the de-icer boot from the outside end by spreading orflexing the walls outwardly until the housing is well within the boot toa position Where the extericrly threaded sleeve 46 extends through thepassage within the mounting ring 30. This combined sub-assembly then ofthe dc-icer boot and the housing is applied to the exterior of thehard-shell so that the threaded sleeve 49 extends through the passage 24and through the mounting gasket whereafter the fastening sleeve 13 isscrewed into position until all parts are in firm, sealed assembly.Conversely, whenever disassembly might be needed, it is necessary onlyto unscrew the fastening sleeve, whereupon the de-icer boot and valvehousing is released from the mask assembly 10. Inasmuch as the dc-icerboot assembly is a separate unitary part, all of the de-icer boots areinterchangeable with the valve housings and both of these in turn areinterchangeable With the mask assemblies. The parts thus describedcomprise accordingly a very useful composite device easily made up inrespect to the component parts and in a form which renders sub-assemblyas well as ultimate assembly a relatively simple non-complicatedoperation. Moreover, by reason of the fact that the entire exterior ofthe de-icer boot is entirely exposed, it can be very easily flexed bymanipulation of the gloved hand of the user whenever it might be neededto dislodge ice which from time to time accumulates around the exterioror" the valve housing as the device is operated in sub-zerosurroundings.

The invention hereinabove described may be viewed as a split versiontype of oxygen mask. The valve assembly and hard-shell, when integratedwith one another, provide a rigid platform for containing all thecomponents of the basic mask assembly; whereas in previous concepts,valving has always been contained with rather flaccid rubber boss-likearrangements. Applicants arrangement also provides for easy removal andreplacement of the valving mechanism, hoses, etc, whereas in previousdesigns it has been a difficult problem because of the necessity toengage rather loose and pliable rubber bosses and compress them withoutthe benefit of a rigid platform.

Further advantageous results stem. from the simplification of themanufacturing procedure, as well as simplifying the tooling required formolding the rubber facepieces. When the need arises to mold a two-piececonfiguration of the type herein disclosed, the mold can be relativelysimple with a minimum of moving parts, whereas in the case of a maskwith an integrated de-icer boot the mold must be manufactured with atleast several moving parts. This projects a problem of indexing andprovides areas of potential wear.

In addition to the above, a two-piece mask construction simplifies themanufacture of the hard-shell configuration because of simplifying thetooling. Basically, the configuration required for a split version maskallows a simple conical shape with a minimum of drafting problems. If itis elected to mold the hard-shell, as has been done in the past, thetooling will be considerably simpler by virtue of the lack of necessityto project the \de-icer boot protective hard-shell.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new in support ofLetters Patent is:

1. A breathing mask assembly comprising an ore-nasal receptable offlexible material having a chamber therein, a face contacting sealinggasket on one side of the receptacle and a hose attachment area on theother side thereof, an annular mounting gasket for a supply tube on saidother side defining an inhalation-exhaltion passage, 21 de-icer bootcomprising an annular mounting ring adapted to be positioned againstsaid hose attachment area, a sleeve of flexible material having a freeoutside end and an inside end, said sleeve comprising an exterior wallhaving an inside end impressed against the exterior of said mountingring and an interior wall having an inside end lying against theinterior of said mounting ring, outside ends of said walls being joinedtogether and enclosing an insulating space between said waHs, a supplytube having an inhalation-exhalation valve housing thereon, said housinghaving a position within said boot, said housing comprising a connectingring having a cylindrical exterior positioned against the inside end ofthe interior wall and an end face in engagement with the mounting ring,and a fastening sleeve having a retaining edge overlying the inside ofsaid mounting gasket, said fastening ring having a threaded engagementwith said connecting ring of the valve housing whereby said de-icer bootand the valve housing are simultaneously releasably attached to thereceptacle in sealed position around the inhalationexhalation passage.

2. A breathing mask assembly comprising an oro-nasal receptacle offlexible material having a chamber therein, a face contacting sealinggasket on one side of the receptacle and a hose attachment area on theother side thereof, an annular mounting gasket for a supply tube on saidother side defining an inhalation-exhalation passage, a de-icer bootcomprising a mounting ring having an annular relatively flat transverseflange adapted to be positioned against said end face of the hard shelland having an annular axially extending flange at the outer perimeter,-a sleeve of flexible material having a free outside end and an insideend, said sleeve comprising an exterior wall having an inside endimpressed against the exterior of said axially extending flange and aninterior wall having an inside end lying against the interior of saidaxially extending flange, outside ends of said walls being joinedtogether and enclosing an, insulating space between said Walls, a supplytube having an inhalation-exhalation valve housing thereon, said housinghaving a position within said boot, said housing comprising a connectingring hav ing a cylindrical exterior positioned against the inside end ofthe interior Wall and an end face in engagement with the transverseflange of the mounting ring, and a fastening sleeve having a retainingedge overlying the inside of said mounting gasket, said fastening ringhaving a threaded engagement with said connecting ring of the valvehousing whereby said de-icer boot and the valve housing aresimultaneously releasably attached to the receptacle in sealed positionaround the inhalation-exhala tion passage.

3. A breathing mask assembly comprising an orcnasal receptacle offlexible material having a chamber therein, a face contacting sealinggasket on one side of the receptacle and a hose attachment area on theother side thereof, an annular mounting gasket for a supply tube on saidother side defming an inhalation-exhalation passage and a hard shellextending over the exterior of the receptacle including an end facehaving a passage therethrough coinciding with said inhalation-exhalationpassage, a de-icer boot comprising an annular mounting ring adapted tobe positioned against said end face of the hard shell, a sleeve offlexible material having a free outside end and an inside end, saidsleeve comprising an exterior Wall having an inside end impressedagainst the exterior of said mounting ring and an interior wall havingan inside end lying against the interior of said mounting, outside endsof said walls being joined together and enclosing an insulating spacebetween said Walls, a supply tube having an inhalation-exhalation valvehousing thereon, said housing having a position within said boot, saidhousing comprising a connecting ring having a cylindrical exteriorpositioned against the inside end of the interior wall and an end facein engagement with the mounting ring, and a fastening sleeve having aretaining edge overlying the inside of said mounting gasket, saidfastening ring having a threaded engagement with said connecting ring ofthe valve housing whereby said de-icer boot and the valve housing aresimultaneously releasably attached to the receptacle and the hard shellin sealed position around the inhalation-exhalation passage.

4. A breathing mask assembly comprising an orcnasal receptacle offlexible material having a chamber therein, a face contacting sealinggasket on one side of the receptacle and a hose attachment area on theother side thereof, an annular mounting gasket for a supply tube on saidother side defining an inhalation-exhalation passage and a hard shellextending over the exterior of the receptacle, said hard shell includinga flat end face having a passage therethrough coinciding with saidinhalation-exhalation passage, a de-ice-r boot comptisng a mounting ringhaving an annular relatively flat transverse flange adapted to bepositioned against said end face of the hard shell and having an annularaxially extending flange at the outer perimeter, a sleeve of flexiblematerial having a free outside end and an inside end, said sleevecomprising at exterior Wall having an inside end impressed against theexterior of said axially extending flange and an interior wall having aninside end lying against the interior of said axially extending flange,outside ends of said walls being joined together and enclosing aninsulating space between said walls, a supply tube having aninhalation-exhalation valve housing thereon, said housing having aposition within said boot, said housing comprising a connecting ringhaving .a cylindrical exterior positoned against the inside end of theinterior Wall and an end face in engagement with the transverse flangeof the mounting ring, a microphone bracket in the chamber having aportion thereof overlying said mounting gasket and surrounding saidinhalation-exhalation passage, and a fastening sleeve having a retainingedge overlying said portion of the bracket and the inside of saidmounting gasket, said fastening ring having a threaded engagement withsaid connecting ring of the valve housing whereby said de-icer boot andthe valve housing are simultaneously releasably attached to thereceptacle and the hard shell in sealed position around theinhalation-exhalation passage.

5. A breathing mask assembly comprising an oro-nasal receptacle having achamber therein, a hose attachment area having a passage therethroughfor a supply tube defining an inhalation-exhalation passage, aninhalationexhalation valve housing and releasable attachment means inengagement respectively with said attachment area and said valve housingadapted to secure said housing to the mask, and a de-icer bootcomprising a flexible doublewalled sleeve including an inside wall andan outside wall joined together at free ends thereof and providing aspace therebetween, said walls at ends opposite said free ends beingsecured to said receptacle in a position surrounding said valve housing.

6. A breathing mask assembly comprising an oro-nasal receptacle having achamber therein, a face contacting sealing gasket on one side of thereceptacle and a hose attachment area on the other side thereof, anannular mounting area for a supply tube on said other side defining aninhalation-exhalation passage, a de-icer boot comprising an annularmounting ring assembly adapted to be positioned against said hoseattachment area, a sleeve of flexible material having a free outside endand an inside end, said sleeve comprising an exterior wall having aninside end forming part of said mounting ring assembly and an interiorwall having an inside end forming part of said mounting ring assembly,outside ends of said walls being joined together and enclosing aninsulating space between said walls, a supply tube having aninhalation-exhalation valve housing thereon, said housing having aposition within said boot, said housing comprising a connecting ringhaving an exterior flange positioned against the mounting ring assembly,and a fastening sleeve having a retaining edge overlying the inside ofsaid mounting area, said fastening sleeve having a retention engagemeatwith said valve housing whereby said de-icer boot and the valve housingare simultaneously releasably attached to the receptacle around theinhalation-exhalation passage.

7. A breathing mask assembly comprising an oro-nasal receptacle having achamber therein, a hose attachment area having a passage therethroughfor a supply tube defining an inhalation-exhalation passage, aninhalationexhalation valve housing and releasable attachment means inengagement respectively with said attachment area and said valve housingadapted to secure said housing to the mask, and a de-icer bootcomprising a flexible doublewalled sleeve including an inside wall andan outside wall joined together at free ends thereof and providing aspace therebetween, said walls at ends opposite said free ends beingsecured to said receptacle in a position surrounding said valve housing,said double walled sleeve having vent means therein, and spacers betweensaid inside wall and said outside wall holding walls in non-collapsingrelationship.

Referencescited by the Examiner 5/48 Gonsett 137377 2,898,908 8/59Sovinsky l28141 2,942,602 6/60 Seeler 128-446 RICHARD A. GAUDET, PrimaryExaminer.

